MARK LONG
FILE -Wake Forest head coach Dave Clawson looks on from the sidelines during the second half of an NCAA college football game in Winston-Salem, N.C., Thursday, Sept. 1, 2022. The Atlantic Coast Conference has wrapped up its spring meetings. Many discussions were held in private, including talks over how the league plans to close the financial gap with the Big Ten and the Southeastern Conference.(AP Photo/Chuck Burton, File)
ACC leadership touts progress in trying to address financial gap with the Big Ten and the SEC

By Mark Long May. 17, 2023 05:04 PM EDT
AMELIA ISLAND, Fla. (AP) — The Atlantic Coast Conference emerged from three days of

FILE - Florida head coach Billy Napier paces the sidelines during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Missouri, Saturday, Oct. 8, 2022, in Gainesville, Fla. Florida Victorious formally launched Tuesday, April 11, 2023, with hopes of raising money to fund NIL deals for student-athletes — and ultimately help the Gators get back to national prominence in football and men’s basketball.(AP Photo/John Raoux, File)
Gators launch 'Florida Victorious' to revamp, streamline NIL

By Mark Long Apr. 11, 2023 02:36 PM EDT
GAINESVILLE, Fla. (AP) — Three months after losing blue-chip quarterback Jaden

FILE - University of Tennessee's new Director of Athletics Danny White speaks during a press conference in Knoxville, Tenn., Friday, Jan. 22, 2021. Brothers and fellow athletic directors Danny (UT) and Brian White (FAU) meet on Thursday, March 23, 2023 in a Sweet 16 matchup. (Caitie McMekin/Knoxville News Sentinel via AP, Pool, File)
March Madness: Tennessee-FAU pits White brothers in Sweet 16

By Mark Long Mar. 22, 2023 06:55 PM EDT
The White family text chain is relatively quiet right now. No talking

San Diego State guard Matt Bradley (20) gets around Charleston guard Jaylon Scott (21) during the first half of an first-round college basketball game in the NCAA Tournament Thursday, March 16, 2023, in Orlando, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)
San Diego State tops Charleston 63-57 in NCAA tourney

By Mark Long Mar. 16, 2023 06:22 PM EDT
ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — Matt Bradley's last NCAA Tournament game essentially ended with

Florida forward Alex Fudge (3) dunks during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game against Missouri, Saturday, Jan. 14, 2023, in Gainesville, Fla. Florida won 73-64.(AP Photo/Alan Youngblood)
Florida beats No. 20 Mizzou behind Castleton's double-double

By Mark Long Jan. 14, 2023 06:54 PM EST
GAINESVILLE, Fla. (AP) — Florida coach Todd Golden is growing a beard and insists it

Florida fans cheer before the team's NCAA college basketball game against Connecticut on Wednesday, Dec. 7, 2022, in Gainesville, Fla. (AP Photo/Alan Youngblood)
No. 5 UConn handles Florida 75-54 on road, remains unbeaten

By Mark Long Dec. 07, 2022 11:20 PM EST
GAINESVILLE, Fla. (AP) — UConn's first true road test looked a lot like every other

FILE - Then-San Francisco head coach Todd Golden applauds his team during the first half of a college basketball game against Murray State in the first round of the NCAA tournament, Thursday, March 17, 2022, in Indianapolis. New Florida coach Todd Golden doesn’t have a rebuild on his hands. It’s more like a puzzle. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings, File)
Golden era begins at Florida with NCAA tourney aspirations

By Mark Long Oct. 20, 2022 04:11 PM EDT
GAINESVILLE, Fla. (AP) — New Florida coach Todd Golden doesn’t have a rebuild on his

FILE - Florida forward Keyontae Johnson (11) smiles after being introduced as a starter before the first half of an NCAA college basketball game against Kentucky, on March 5, 2022, in Gainesville, Fla. Johnson, who collapsed during a game in December 2020, is headed to Kansas State to resume his college career. Johnson made the announcement on social media on Saturday, Aug. 20, 2022, and chose the Wildcats over fellow finalists Memphis, Nebraska and Western Kentucky. (AP Photo/Matt Stamey, File)
Keyontae Johnson resuming college hoops career at K-State

By Mark Long Aug. 20, 2022 02:37 PM EDT
GAINESVILLE, Fla. (AP) — Former Florida forward Keyontae Johnson, who collapsed

FILE - Florida forward Keyontae Johnson, center, smiles after being introduced as a starter before an NCAA college basketball game against Kentucky, March 5, 2022, in Gainesville, Fla. Johnson, who collapsed during a game in December 2020 and has not practiced or played since, has entered the NCAA transfer portal with hopes of resuming his college career. (AP Photo/Matt Stamey, File)
Florida's Johnson joins transfer portal, hopes to play again

By Mark Long May. 01, 2022 08:05 PM EDT
GAINESVILLE, Fla. (AP) — Florida forward Keyontae Johnson, who collapsed during a

Florida big man, leading scorer Castleton back for 5th year

By Mark Long Apr. 11, 2022 11:45 AM EDT
GAINESVILLE, Fla. (AP) — Florida big man Colin Castleton is returning for a fifth

San Francisco head coach Todd Golden applauds his team during the first half of a college basketball game against Murray State in the first round of the NCAA tournament, Thursday, March 17, 2022, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
Florida's Golden rounds out coaching staff by hiring Hartman

By Mark Long Apr. 01, 2022 04:53 PM EDT
GAINESVILLE, Fla. (AP) — New Florida coach Todd Golden rounded out his staff Friday

San Francisco head coach Todd Golden watches from the sideline during the first half of a college basketball game against Murray State in the first round of the NCAA tournament, Thursday, March 17, 2022, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
Florida hires San Francisco's Golden as men's hoops coach

By Mark Long Mar. 18, 2022 01:57 PM EDT
GAINESVILLE, Fla. (AP) — Florida hired San Francisco's Todd Golden as its basketball

Tennessee forward Uros Plavsic (33) celebrates after they defeated Kentucky in an NCAA college basketball game in the semifinal round at the Southeastern Conference tournament, Saturday, March 12, 2022, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)
No. 9 Tennessee tops No. 5 Kentucky, reaches SEC final again

By Mark Long Mar. 12, 2022 06:25 PM EST
TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — No. 9 Tennessee just might be the Southeastern Conference's top

ESPN sportscaster Dick Vitale poses with an autographed basketball before an NCAA college basketball game between between Texas A&M and Arkansas at the Southeastern Conference tournament Saturday, March 12, 2022, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)
Dick Vitale returns to court, gets recognized at SEC tourney

By Mark Long Mar. 12, 2022 01:42 PM EST
TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — That was awesome, baby! College basketball icon Dick

Kentucky coach John Calipari shouts at an official during the second half of the team's NCAA college basketball game against Vanderbilt in the Southeastern Conference men's tournament Friday, March 11, 2022, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)
No. 5 Kentucky tops Vanderbilt again, 77-71 in SEC tourney

By Mark Long Mar. 11, 2022 10:43 PM EST
TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — TyTy Washington hasn't played like this in nearly two months. He

Arkansas guard Davonte Davis (4) is double teammed by LSU guard Xavier Pinson (1) and forward Tari Eason (13) during the first half of an NCAA men's college basketball Southeastern Conference tournament game Friday, March 11, 2022, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)
Arkansas beats LSU for 3rd time, 79-67 in SEC Tournament

By Mark Long Mar. 11, 2022 05:07 PM EST
TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — Au’Diese Toney, JD Notae and their Arkansas teammates watched LSU

Alabama guard Keon Ellis (14) battles for a loose ball against LSU forward Tari Eason and forward Darius Days (4) during overtime of an NCAA college basketball game in Baton Rouge, La., Saturday, March 5, 2022. LSU won 80-77. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)
NBA Prospect Watch: Eason is 6th Man like no others in SEC

By Mark Long Mar. 09, 2022 03:02 PM EST
The Southeastern Conference has never had a sixth man of the year quite like LSU’s

Kentucky guard Sahvir Wheeler (2) makes a layup past Florida guard Myreon Jones (0) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game, Saturday, March 5, 2022, in Gainesville, Fla. (AP Photo/Matt Stamey)
Tshiebwe shines again, No. 7 Kentucky beats Florida 71-63

By Mark Long Mar. 05, 2022 04:26 PM EST
GAINESVILLE, Fla. (AP) — When Florida scored the first five points of the second half

Florida forward Keyontae Johnson (11) smiles after being introduced as a starter before the first half of an NCAA college basketball game against Kentucky, Saturday, March 5, 2022, in Gainesville, Fla. (AP Photo/Matt Stamey)
Florida's Johnson gets ceremonial start on senior day vs UK

By Mark Long Mar. 05, 2022 02:27 PM EST
GAINESVILLE, Fla. (AP) — Florida forward Keyontae Johnson dribbled the ball several

Arkansas guard Au'Diese Toney (5) celebrates with Davonte Davis (4) and Jaylin Williams during the second half of the team's NCAA college basketball game against Florida on Tuesday, Feb. 22, 2022, in Gainesville, Fla. (AP Photo/Matt Stamey)
NBA Prospect Watch: Jaylin Williams on a roll for Arkansas

By Mark Long Feb. 23, 2022 01:59 PM EST
There’s no other big man in the Southeastern Conference like Jaylin Williams.